EXCLUSIVE
Andreas Christensen will be included in Chelsea's pre-season tour of China to face Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Inter, having been presented with the opportunity to show Antonio Conte that he is worth a first-team place, Goal understands.
The 21-year-old has spent the last two season in Germany on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach but Chelsea have told him to prime himself for action in the summer months.
The Dane, however, is ambitious and does not want to spend time on the bench. Any failure to secure regular first-team football could see him push for a move.
This means that pre-season is pivotal for Christensen to prove he is ready to fit into the Premier League champions' side but it also gives Monchengladbach hope in their quest to re-sign their defender.
Christensen's impressive form over the past two seasons has led him to becoming a full international and he is currently away with Denmark in expectation of facing Germany.
Baba Rahman could also be set to return to Chelsea from his Bundesliga loan move with Schalke as he recovers from an anterior cruciate ligament injury that he sustained at the African Cup of Nations.
Hazard to miss start of the season
The Germans will look at the option to extend Rahman's loan deal for another season but they may pass up on the opportunity to allow the Ghanaian to complete his recovery at Cobham Training Centre.
Rahman was deemed too attacking for Conte's left side when he played with a four-man defence but there is hope that the switch in formation to a 3-4-3 could see him become useful again to Chelsea. He would likely operate as a back-up option for Marcos Alonso and it is hoped that he will train with the first team by the end of July.
